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Job summary

Main area
Dietitian
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref
354-CS-21938
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
New CAMHS inpatient site
Town
Haywards Heath
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/07/2026 08:00

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust logo

CAMHS Acute Dietitian

NHS AfC: Band 7

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.

Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

Join Us as We Reopen Our New CAMHS Inpatient Unit

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is excited to recruit a Band 7 Specialist CAMHS Dietitian to our newly redesigned Children & Young People’s Inpatient Mental Health Unit, reopening in Autumn 2026.

Following extensive engagement, co‑design with young people and families, and significant investment in our clinical model, workforce, and environment, we are creating a modern, therapeutic inpatient service focused on purposeful admissions, recovery, and meaningful outcomes.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Dietitian to play a key role in shaping a renewed inpatient service at an exciting point of transformation.

About the Unit

Our refreshed clinical model includes purposeful admissions, structured care with early review points, strong links with COAST (Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team), and a 7‑day therapeutic timetable including evenings and weekends. The team will include strengthened MDT working, safe staffing, duty doctor cover, trauma‑informed and autism‑aware practice, and lived‑experience roles.

The environment and culture promote safety, collaboration, curiosity, and learning—for both young people and staff.

As a Band 7 Dietitian, you will

·       Provide advanced clinical leadership within the inpatient MDT

·       Hold responsibility for the nutrition and dietetic management of children in the Acute inpatient service

·       Offer comprehensive Dietetic assessments, interventions and evaluations.

Main duties of the job

·       Lead on clinical decision‑making and contribute to safe, high‑quality admissions and discharges

·       Champion trauma‑informed, relational, and strengths‑based practice

·       Contribute to service development, quality improvement, and evaluation

·       Work collaboratively with families, carers, community CAMHS, and wider system partners

This role offers a balance of direct clinical work, leadership, and service development within a supportive senior structure.

 

Working for our organisation

What we can Offer You

  • The opportunity to shape and embed a redesigned inpatient CAMHS service
  • Supportive, visible leadership with a strong focus on reflective practice
  • Comprehensive induction alongside clinical, professional and managerial supervision
  • On-going continued professional development within the array of in-house AHP Training opportunities.
  • Clear career development and leadership pathways
  • Opportunities for quality improvement, research, and innovation
  • Relocation package or recruitment incentives (subject to eligibility)

Please see Allied Health Professions :: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for more information around working in a wider team as an allied health professional at Sussex Partnership.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities


  • A – Qualifications

    Essential

    • BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent 
    • Registration with the HCPC as a Dietitian 

    Desirable

    • Evidence of postgraduate level study 
    • Practice Education training 
    • Management/Leadership training 
    • BDA training in Eating Disorders for dietitians 
    • Membership of relevant specialist groups 


    B – Knowledge / Experience

    Essential

    • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in Dietetic Practice 
    • Experience working with a wide range of patients with complex dietetic needs (physical & mental health) 
    • Ability to work in intense, high-change environments and manage distressing situations 
    • Experience of enteral feeding 
    • Experience in a relevant clinical area 
    • Experience delivering both group and individual interventions 
    • Experience of multidisciplinary working 
    • Experience supervising staff and students 
    • Experience of multi-agency working 
    • Experience applying a range of assessment tools 
    • Quality improvement and research experience 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent
  • Registration with the HCPC as a Dietitian
  • Evidence of post graduate level study

Knowledge/Experience

Essential criteria
  • Proven and demonstrable experience in Dietetic Practice
  • Experience of working with a variety of patients having varying and complex dietetic needs both in a physical and mental health context
  • Proven record of being able to work in an intense environment with a high level of change and in difficult and at times distressing circumstances
  • Experience of enteral feeding
  • Experience in a clinical area related to the post
  • Experience of both group and individual work
  • Experience of multidisciplinary working
  • Experience of supervising students
  • Experience of multi-agency work
  • Experience in applying a range of assessment tools

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Diana Ramsey
Job title
Professional Lead for AHP
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07391 408204
Additional information

Diana Ramsey (she/her)

Allied Health Professions Divisional Professional Lead - CAMHS, EIP & Perinatal

NIHR - Senior Research Leader - 2026

Transfer of Care / Transition Lead - CAMHS

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

T:07391 408204

E: [email protected]

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